In 2026, after nearly 90 years, the Institute of Design was folded into Illinois Tech's School of Design & Society.
This website is an archive of the impactful and inspirational work produced by the ID community before that transition.

László Moholy-Nagy opened the New Bauhaus in Chicago in 1937, treating design as a discipline that was teachable, testable, and consequential. Nine decades on, its scope had widened from the things people use to the systems they depend on: hospitals, government agencies, classrooms, supply chains, digital platforms. Along the way, ID community members developed the published research, methods, and frameworks that designers rely on every day.

Chief among them is human-centered design: close attention to how people actually live, and advocacy for what that research reveals. It shaped designers who are comfortable with complexity and ambiguity: curious, rigorous, inclusive, and stubbornly optimistic about design's ability to change the systems that shape our lives.

To every one of them, who taught, studied, built, critiqued, and stayed late in the studio: thank you, and keep designing.

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Past Event

How to Do Storytelling and Presenting Design Work

August 5, 2026
5:30-7:30pm CST
Institute of Design
3137 S Federal Street
Two participants at a Delivery Fellowship event at the Institute of Design — one speaking animatedly, the other listening closely — seated at a studio worktable in Chicago.
Co-Hosted by the Delivery Fellowship and the Institute of Design

The Delivery Fellowship invites design and product professionals to an interactive session on turning design work into clear, compelling stories. Led by Noel Childs, Senior Vice President Group Experience Design Director at Digitas, the evening will explore how stronger storytelling can help designers communicate decisions, connect with audiences, and build influence.

Agenda

5:30 Doors Open & Networking
6:00 Presentation begins
6:30 Interactive workshop begins
7:00 Small group presentations and feedback
7:30 Event concludes, followed by optional drinks at a nearby restaurant

Key Objectives

  • Structure design presentations around the audience, problem, decisions, and outcome.
  • Explain complex design work without overwhelming people with unnecessary details.
  • Present ideas with greater clarity, confidence, and influence.

Interactive Workshop

Participants will apply the concepts from the presentation to shape and practice a concise story about design work. You will collaborate in small groups, test your approach, and receive constructive feedback.

  • Choose a project, concept, or design decision to present.
  • Build a focused narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and conclusion.
  • Practice presenting your story and gather feedback from other participants.

Takeaways

You will leave with a practical approach for developing stronger design narratives and presenting your work more effectively to clients, leaders, and cross-functional teams.
Gain:

  • A repeatable framework for structuring design stories.
  • Greater confidence explaining your process and decisions.
  • Practical feedback you can apply to future presentations.
Register